Coin-operated reciprocating time switch



Nov. 17, 1925- L. c. EPPLER COIN OPERATED 'RECIPROCATING TIIE SWITCH v 7Filed March 19, 1 23 3 sheetsum 1 v titjiiijua 40 50 24 =3? 7 w 7 INVEATTORNEYS Nov. 17,1925 ,561,599

' L. c. EPPLER CO1 OPERATED RECIPROCATING TIME SWITCH Filed March 19, v1923 3 Sheets-sheet 2 n 11111111111111", ll!

' a INVENTOR 1 I Llgelaflfppla' 7 Nov. 17, 1925- 1,561,599 L. c. EPPLERCOIN OPERATED RECIPROCATING TIME SWITCH Filed Hawaii 19, 1 sSheets-Sheets .mu iaumr- INVENTOR g wz l ATTORNEYS Patented" Nov. 17, i1925.

. I ED STATESPA-TENT OFFICE... e

LLOYD C. EPPLER, 0F GROTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 AIRDBY CORPORATION;01 GBOTON, NEW YORK, A OORPORATIQN 9F NEW YORK.

, 4 COIN-OPERATED nncrrnocarmo TIME swn'on.

Application filed March 19, 1923. Serial No. 626111.

To all whom z'tmay concern: a

Be it known that I, LLoYn C. EPPLER, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of Groton, in the county ofTompkins and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Coin-Operated Re ciprocating Time Switches, of which thefollowmg 1s a specification.

- Themam ob ect ot' thls invention 1s -to provide a simple apparatus inwhich a coin.

operated mechanismis adapted to close an electric circuit and maintainthe same in closed position throughout the lapse of a predeterminedperiod of time. The apparatus is specially designed for closing anelectrio motor c1rcu1t but the apparatus is capable of use in a varietyof relations and the nvention therefore 1s not limited with res eettouse,

r nother important object of the invention is to provide means wherebythe motor drives means for operating the switch to open the motorcircult after a predeter mined timeand reset the apparatus for actucasing showing the heating coil 1n the (115- charge nozzle.

ation by the insertion of another coin.

The invention is designed especially for use in connection with a handdrying machine in which an electric motor is arranged to drive a fan orblower, the air fromthe' said .fan passing over a heating coil and beingthen discharged through a nozzle, it being desirable with this classofmachines to operate them for a predetermined time and then automaticallyopen the motor circuit, the switch operating parts being left inposition-to be again actuated by the insermeans forgactuation by theinsertion of another coin.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the switch operatingmechanism connected to the shaft of a motor blower, the blower casing:and the motor casing being shown partly in sectional 'view to moreclearly show the construction;

Fig. 2 a detail end elevation of the coin operated means for releasingthe holding dog;

Fig. 4 a detail vertical sectional View showing the coin' operated meansreleasing the-holding dog;

Fig. 5 a vertical sectional view showing the holding dog released andthe switch in its circuit closing position; v

Fig. 6 a detail vertical sectional. view showing the operation ofresetting the coin operated releasing means; I

F ig. 7 a detail sectional vie? illustrating the beginning of. theswitch 'opening move- I. ment;

Fig. 8- a detail vertical sectional View showing the parts near the endof theirswitch opening movement;

Fig. 9 a detail cross sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig, 8;

Fig. 10 a detail sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1,; and

Fig. 11 a detail sectional view of the fan the fan. Usually an electricheating coil 3 is arran ed in the discharge nozzle, said coil being 0?any suitable form and usually in circuit with the motor so that whenthemotor circuit is completed the heating coil will be energized. Thefan- 2 is rigidly connected to the end of a shaft 4 of the electricmotor 5. This motor is enclosed in a casing 6 rigidly connected to theside of the fan casing. The fan casing, opposite the motor casing, isopen as illustrated at 7 in Fig. 1. It is obvious that when the motorisenergized the fan will be rotated and a. blast of air will be driventhrough the nozzle 3 and over and throu h the heating coil 3, the fan ocrating to raw air in through the opening Rigidly secured to the side ofthe an casing, opposite the motor casing 6, is a bracket 8 havin asubstantially horizontal arm 9 from which depends shaft support- Fig.-

a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

speed shaft 11 and a low speed shaft 12.

-The reduction worm gearing is interposed bracket 8 serves as a meansbetween these two'shafts. It is obvious that the worm gearing may be soarranged as to secure the desired reduction in speed between the highspeed shaft 11 and the low axial alignment with the motor shaft and isprovided at its inner end with a cross pin 13 which is adapted toloosely engage the arms 14 of a yoke secured to the fan or motor shaft4.. The end of the high speed shaft carrying the cross pin extends intothe fan casing and is loosely engaged with the yoke within the casing.The purpose of this loose connection is to avoid the necessity ofaccurately aligning the high speed shaft with the motor shaft and alsoto'permit the parts to be readily assembled. It is obvious that thecross pin 13 must engage the arms 14 of the yoke on opposite sides inorder that the high speed shaft will be driven'by themotor shaft. Thebox containing the reduction worm gearing is preferably filled with somesuitable form of lubricant to insure the easy running of the gears. Onone end of the low speed shaft 12 is secured a crank 15, said crankbeing'connected to the switch opening and closing devices as will behereinafter described.

The switch shown in the drawings, for opening andclosing the motorcircuit, is of a well known construction. The contact arms are carriedby a rocking bar 17 mounted in a suitable ri 'd frame 18. The bar 17 isrocked through a rocking frame 19 which is mounted in the frame 18 andis connected by push links 20 to a rocking operating lever 21. The lever21 is pivoted in the frame 18. As illustrated in the drawings thecontact arms are thrown into position to close the motor circuit whenthe rocking lever 21 is moved upwardly, as shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings. When the rocking lever 21 is forced downwardly to the limit ofits movement the contact 7 arms are snapped to their off position toopen the motor circuit,-as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Thisis a well known type of switch and it is thoughtunnecessary toillustrate the details of the construction thereof. The frame 18 carriesa. plate 22 on which are mounted knifelade stationary contacts 23 whichare designed to be engaged by the contact arms 16. The contacts 23 areinsulated from the plate 22 and the motor circlosed position. The crankvertically slotted for cuit wires 24 are connected to them. The switch,of course, is spring operated so that it has a quick snap movement bothin clos ing and opening the motor circuit. The switch as a whole issupported in the frame of the drying machine by means of a bracket 25,said bracket being provided with a horizontal portion 26. It is obvious,however, that the switch may be supported in the machine in any suitablemanner.

A switch operating pitman 27 is con nected at its upper end to a crankpin 28 d mounted in the end of the crank 15. The

lower end of the pitman is pivoted to the free end of the rocking lever21 so that a reciprocating movement of the pitman will operate to movethe switch to its open or pin 28-is provided with a square operatingblock 29. The pitman is tubular and substantially rectangular in crosssection. Nearits upper free end it is slotted vertically at 30, saidslot being formed in opposite side walls thereof. The operating block 29extends through the pitman and fits snugly in the slot 30, engaging thewalls of said slot, as clearly illustrated in the drawings. The pitmanis held on the operating block by means of a washer 31 secured to theprojecting end of the crank pin 28, said washer also serving to hold theoperating block in the pitman. The operating block slides freely in slot30 so that the pitman may move vertically under the'infiuence of theswitch closing spring and independently of the crank 15. The horizontalportion 26 of the switch supporting bracket extends through the slots inthe pitman and serves as a rigid stop and support for the lower end ofthe switch closing spring 32, said spring being mounted within thepitman and the upper end thereof engaging a rigid inwardly turned lip-33, said lip serving, when the pitman is forced downwardly, to compressthe spring 32 and thereby set it for the switch closing operation. Thepitman is the passage of the arm 26 of the switch supporting bracket topermit the pitman to reciprocate, as shown clearlyin Fig. 5 of thedrawings.

Pivoted near the upper free end of the pitman is a locking dog 34-.whose upper end extends within the pitman and is adapted to be engagedby the operating block 29. A spring 35 normally forces theupper end ofthe locking dog into the path of the op- .erating block; and .the upperend of said dog is notched at 36 to receive block. is adapted to engagethe side of the operating block and thereby form a stop to limit theinward swinging movement of the locking dog. The locking dog 34 isextended below its pivot to form a releasing arm 37 which lies alongSide of the pitthe operating The upright wall of the notch 36 ieo whichreciprocates man, said releasing arm being normally thrown outwardlyaway from the pitman by the spring '35. 26, andin position to engage thereleasmg arm 37 is a trip device'38. This trip device consists of achannel frame 39 in a trip 40, said trip carrying a roller 41 which isadapted to be pressed into engagement with the releasing arm 37 The trip40, carries a transverse pin 42 which operates in elbow slots 43 formedin-the side walls of the frame 39. Connected to the pin 42 is a spring44, said spring extending toward the pitman and beingconnected to arigid pin 45 carried by "theframe 39.

slotted at 46 through which the pin 45 extends. and which permits thetrip to have a movement toward the pitman under the influence of thespring 44. The trip device is locked in its retracted position by thepin 42 dropping down in the vertical portion of the elbow slot 43. Whenthe trip device is lifted, as will be hereinafter described, the pin 42is raised into the longer horizontal portionof the slot 43 and thespring 44 will then cause it to move toward the pitman and intoengagement with the arm 37. The spring 44' tends to pull the pindownwardly into the vertical portion of the elbow slot and thereby latchthe trip device in its retracted position. In the channel frame 39,below the trip device 40, is mounted a short rock shaft 47, said shaftbeing, mounted on sensitive anti-friction bearings so that it will rockreadily. Where said shaft passes under the end of the trip device it isflattened or squared to form a cam surface 48 whichnormally engages theunder side of the trip device sothat when said shaft is' rocked the camface 48 will lift the trip device and free the pin 42 from the shoulderin the elbow slot 43. 'Mounted in the rockshaft is a long arm 49 whichcarries at its free end a coincup 50, said cup being disposed in asuitable position in the machine frame to receive a coin. It 1s manifestthat the machine will be provided with a coin chute or slot adjacent thecoin cup 50. The arm 49 is carried through the rock shaft and its endopposite the coin cup is provided with a counter balance weight 51, saidweightacting to normally hold the coin cup in position to receive acoin. A stop 52vis adapted to-beengaged by the counterweight when thecoin cup is ',-In'- Fig. 1; tae switch is shown in 0 en' position withall theparts at rest.- To 0 ose in-itsf normal}- sition.

the switch a coin is dropped into the coin cup.5 O.- The 'weight'.;.o:fthe coin will depress the cup sea-and rotate the rock shaft 47. The camface 48 will lift the trip device 40 and free the pin 42 from theshoulder of the elbow slot. The spring 44 will Mounted on the arm- Thetrip device 40 is upwardly and the upward movement of the pitman willrock the lever 21 and throw the switch to its closed position. Thisoperation is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. The motor circuit is nowclosed and the crank 15 starts to move in the direction indicated by thearrow in Figs. 5 and 6. The movement of the crank will swing the upperend of the pitman toward the trip device and will engage the roller 41,thereby forcing the trip device against the tension of'the spring 44until the pin 42 is snap ed down into the vertical elbow portion 0 theslot 43 thereby latching the trip device in its retracted position. Thecrank will continue its movement .until it has reached the top or outerend of the slot 30. When it has limit-of its downward movement the lever21 will have been moved on its pivot sufficiently to snap the switchinto its open position and the motor will be stopped. The timingmechanism is so arranged that the motor will be in operation during onecomplete revolution of the crank 15 so that when the parts have beenrestored to the position shown in Fig. 1, the motor will be stopped andall the parts will be in position for another operation by the insertionof another coin in the coin cup 50.

What I claim is:

1. A time switch for an electric motor comprising a motor, a reductiongearing including a high speed shaft. and a low speed shaft, means fordriving the high speed shaft from the motor shaft, a rocking switch, aspring tending to move said switch to its closed position, means forlocking said switch in its open'position, means for releasing the saidswitch locking means, and a bar operated by, the rotation of the lowspeed shaft to force the switch into its open position, said switchopening bar resetting the switch closingspring and the means releasingthe switch locking means.

2. A time switch for an electric motor comprisin a motor, a reductiongaming including a iigh speed shaft "an'da low speed shaft, means fordriving the high; s eed shaft from the motor shaft, wires in switch, aspring tending to move" for switchto its closed position, a dog forlockspring adapted to be placed under tension mg said switch in its openposition, means when the pitman is moved by the crank, a for releasingthe said switch locking dog, means to release the locking dog from theand a bar operated by the rotation of the crank to ermit the switchclosing s ring low speed shaft to force the switch into its to move t epitman and thereby roc the 70 position, said switch opening meansreswitah lever to its closed position, and

setting the locking dog, the switch closing means whereby the lockingdog will relever, a pitman connected to said lever, a to open and closedpositions, a pitman, an

and the means for releasing the lock the crank to the 'pitman whenthe'crank switc -locking dog. 1 v reaches the outer end of the slot inthe pit- 3. A- time switch for an electric motor man. I I com rising amotor, a reduction gearing in- 6. A time switch mechanism comprisineluding a h'gh speed shaft and-a low s eed a reduction gearing includinga high spee shaft, means for driving the high speed s liaft shaftadapted to be driven by a motor from the motor shaft, a rocking switchand a low speed shaft, 9. switch shiftable crank mounted on the lowspeed shaft and operative connection between said switch operating in aslot in the pitman, a pivand the pi-tman, a crank mounted on the otedlocking dog to lock the crank to the low speed shaft, a pivotal andslidable con- Etman, a switch closing spring adapted to nection betweensaid crank and 'pitman,

pl ced under tension by the rotation of means to automatically lock saidpitman the crank, a means to release the locking and crank againstrelativeslidin at their dog from the said crank and thereby per saidpivotal connection, a switc closing mit the switch closing spring tomove'the spring adapted to be placed under tension pitman and rock theswitch ever to closed by the'rotation of the crank, means to reposition,and means whereby therotation of lease said crank and pitman lockingmeans the crank will cause the locking dog to re-- and thereby permitsaid. switch closing lock the crank to, the pitinan. spring to move thepitman longitudinally 4. A time switch for an electric motor relativelyto the crank andshift the switch com risin a motor, a reduction gearinginto closed position, and means whereby the eluding a igh speed shaftand a low speed rotation of the crank will cause the said shaft, meansfor driving-the high speed locking means to relock the crank andpitshaft from the motor shaft, a rocking switch man together and causethe switch to be lever, a pitman pivoted at its lower ends opened andthe spring. to be-re-tensioned by to said lever the other end being freeto the continued rotation- 0f the crank. swing, said pitman beingslotted longitudi- 7 A time switch mechanism for an elecnally at itsfree upper end, a crank;mounted tric motor comprising a reductiongearing on the low speedshaft and operating in the including a highspeed shaft adapted tobe slot in the pitman, a pivoted locking dogdriven by a motor and a low speed shaft, carried by thepitman andadapted to look a switch shiftable to open and closed osithe crank tothe pitman when the crank is tions, a pitman operatively connec to inthe upper end of the said slot, a switch said switch, a. crank carriedby said low closing spring adapted to be placed under speed shaft, apivotal and slidable connectension when the pitman is moved downtion'between said crank and pitman, means wardly by the crank, a means torelease the for locking the pitman against sliding relalocking dog fromthe crank and thereby tively to the crank, means tending to shift rmitthe switch closing spring to rock the switch to closed position,settable pitthe switch lever to its closed position, and man releasingmeans adapted to be tripped means whereby the locking dog will relockfor releasing said locking means and permit the crank to the pitman whenthe crank said swltch closing means to slide the pitreachesthc upperpart of the slot in the man longitudinally to close the switch,

pitman. means whereby the rotation of the crank 5. A time switch for anelectric motor will cause the said locking means to re-lock comprising amotor, a reduction gearing inthe crank and pitman together and causeeluding a high speed shaft and a low speed the switch to be opened bythe continued shaft, means for driving the high 3 speed rotation of thecrank the. said pitman reshaft from the motor shaft, a rocking switch lsi g means ei g d pt to be e-s lever, a pitinan pivoted at one ofits'cnds by the movement of the pitman to switch to said levcr'the otherend being free to opening pos1t1on.- 7

swing, said pitman being slotted longitudi- S. A time switcln mechanismcompris' at' 1ts free end, a crank mounted on a reductioncgearingincluding a high spec w speed shaf 1 Opflatmg in theslot shaft adaptedto be driven by a motor and in the pitman, a pivoted locking dog caralow speed shaft, a crank carried b the riedhy the pitman and adapted tolock the said low s ecd shaft, a switch shi table p 7 to the p tman whenthe crank is in to open an closed positions, a pitman,4an the outerend'lof said slot, .a switch closing operative connection between. Mswitch and pitman, a

tion between said pitman and crank, means carried. 'by the pitman toautomatically lock the pitman against sliding movement relatively to thecrank at said pivotalconnec-' tion, means tending to shift the switch tomeans for releasingv said said switch closing means to move the pitmanlongitudinally and close the switch,

"and means whereby the rotation of the crank will cause the said lockingmeans to relock the crank and pitman together and cause the switch to beopened by the continued rotation of the crank.

9. A time switch mechanism for an electric motor comprising a reductiongearing including a high speed shaft'adapted to be driven by the motorand alow speed shaft, a switch shiftable to open and closed posi tions,switch shifting means connecting the pivotal and slidable conneclowspeed shaft and the'switch, a sprin tending to close the switch, meansadapte to operatively connect said shifting means to the low speedshaftand prevent the spring from closing I the switch, settable means adaptedto be tripped to release said shaft connecting ;means and permit thespring to close the switch and start the motor, means to automaticallyre-connec-t the low-speed shaft to said switch shifting means upon apredetermined rotation of the lows eed shaft, whereby the switch will beopene and the spring retensioned by a further rotation of the low speedshaft, the

- said settable releasing means being adapted to be automatically resetby t switch shifting means upon the {switch opening movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

- LLOYD C. EPPLER.

